Jose Canseco yesterday stood by his story alleging he once introduced Alex Rodriguez to a steroid dealer he identified only as “Max” – even as “Max” came forward to say he was against steroids “100 percent” and defended A-Rod as a clean player.

The comment came in response to an SI.com story in which a trainer named Joseph Dion identified himself as “Max.” Emerson confirmed to The Post that Dion is “Max.”

Dion told SI.com he trained Rodriguez for four years when A-Rod was with Seattle. But Dion denied Canseco’s account that “Max” was a “fan of steroids.”

“That’s really, really funny because I am the one person that hates steroids,” Dion was quoted as saying. “I’m against it 100 percent. And, A-Rod, at the time that I trained him – and this I swear to God – was 100 percent against steroids. He was one of the hardest-working guys, and most natural guy, that I’ve met in my life. He hated steroids. We talked about it.”

After reading Canseco’s account during an interview with SI.com, Dion was quoted as saying, “That’s gotta be me.”

Rodriguez repeatedly has denied using performance-enhancing drugs, and Canseco has said he has no knowledge of drug use by A-Rod.

Rodriguez, who has refused to address Canseco’s accusations, confirmed meeting Dion – but not through Canseco.

“I met him in Miami,” Rodriguez said. “I met him through Eddie Rodriguez,” who ran the Boys Club Alex attended in his youth.

Canseco did not return calls seeking direct comment.

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Is it possible that what has been termed a strain in Jorge Posada‘s right shoulder is something more complex and serious? Is it possible the Yankees catcher has a muscle tear?

The club and catcher say he is getting closer to getting behind the plate. Thursday night, Posada said he could have caught, but the club wouldn’t allow it. Posada also said he had targeted tomorrow as his return date.

Nevertheless, Posada didn’t throw during yesterday’s batting practice before the Yankees’ 8-2 loss to the Orioles. Instead, Posada fielded ground balls at first with a first baseman’s glove. He was not in the lineup at first or at DH, but pinch hit for Chad Moeller, flying out to open the ninth.

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Joba Chamberlain‘s father is breathing on his own and feeling better, no longer needing a ventilator but still in critical condition and awaiting more tests, the pitcher said in a statement issued by the team. Chamberlain missed his fifth consecutive game attending to his stricken father in Nebraska. . . . Edwar Ramirez was elevated from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Jonathan Albaladejo was sent out.